Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS08’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Echeveria  plant named ‘OVPEARLSO8’ which is characterized by a flattened profile with relatively narrow foliage that is somewhat loosely held in a basal rosette, green and moderately glossy foliage which is narrowly margined dark greyed-purple and becoming more broadly margined at the apex, light suffusion of greyed-purple across most of the abaxial foliar surface, and involute foliar margins at and near the apex. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3116, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria pulidonis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLSO8’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLSO8’ is a naturally-occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) which was discovered by the inventor in March of 2009 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its blue-gray foliage with conspicuous dark red margins and leaves that are strongly curled upward and inward at the distal margins.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLSO8’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2009 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Through eight subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLSO8’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVPEARLSO8’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVPEARLSO8’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLSO8’ exhibits a flattened profile with relatively         narrow foliage that is somewhat loosely held in a basal rosette;         and     -   2. ‘OVPEARLSO8’ exhibits green, moderately glossy foliage which         is narrowly margined dark greyed-purple, becoming more broadly         margined at the apex; and     -   3. ‘OVPEARLSO8’ exhibits light suffusion of greyed-purple across         most of the abaxial foliar surface.     -   4. ‘OVPEARLSO8’ exhibits involute foliar margins at and near the         apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVPEARLSO8’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVPEARLSO8’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLSO8’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLSO8’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘OVPEARLSO8’ plants grown in 5.5 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria which consisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, and chemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No other chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLSO8’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLSO8’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Flattened.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—4.6 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 11.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Slow to moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21             degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce             a marketable plant in a 12 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a             basal rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 54 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to narrow obovate.         -   Dimensions.—5.1 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave; distal portion of the leaf is             curled upward at an approximate angle of 25 degrees to the             proximal portion of the leaf. Margins at and near the apex             are involute.         -   Attitude.—Foliage is held upright and outward at and near             the center of the rosette and becomes progressively more             relaxed towards the outer whorls of foliage.         -   Apex.—Bluntly apiculate.         -   Base.—Long cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 191A; margined greyed-purple, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 187B and 187C, and becoming darker at the             apex, nearest to in between RHS N186C and 187A. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS             191A; margined greyed-purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS             187B and 187C, and becoming darker at the apex, nearest to             in between RHS N186C and 187A. Mature foliage, adaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B, and fading             lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 147C; base is             strongly suffused with purple, nearest to RHS 75B; margined             greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 187D, and becoming darker at             the apex, nearest to RHS N186C. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Nearest to in between yellow-green and             greyed-green, RHS N148B and 194A; fading to yellow-green             towards the base, nearest to RHS N148D; base is strongly             suffused with purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS 75A and             75B; central zone of the leaf is lightly suffused with             greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185C; suffused with             greyed-purple towards the apex, nearest to RHS 187C;             margined greyed-purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS 187C and             187D, and becoming darker at the apex, nearest to RHS N186C.         -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial             surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —             No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘OVPEARLSO8’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis     plant (not patented) in the following characteristics described in     Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS08’ The parent. Foliage size. Longer and narrower Shorter and broader than than the parent. ‘OVPEARLS08’. Foliage glaucosity. Foliage is not Moderately glaucescent. glaucescent. General coloration Appearing as a darker Appearing as a lighter of the mature shade of green by shade of green by foliage. comparison to the comparison to parent. ‘OVPEARLS08’. General coloration Conspicuously Less conspicuously of the leaf margins. margined greyed- margined red. purple, generally dark red. appearing

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new     cultivar ‘OVPEARLSO8’ differ from Echeveria ‘OVPEARLSO5’ (U.S.     patent application Ser. No. 16/899,822), which is the closest known     comparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2     below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS08’ ‘OVPEARLS05’ Plant profile and Flattened profile with Globular profile with growth habit. foliage more loosely foliage more tightly held in a basal rosette. held in a basal rosette. Abundance of foliage Less abundant than More abundant than ‘OVPEARLS05’. ‘OVPEARLS08’. Foliage aspect. Distal portion of the Distal portion of the leaf is curled upward; leaf is curled upward; margins at and near margins are not the apex are involute. involute. Foliage glaucosity. Not glaucescent. Strongly glaucescent. General coloration Yellow-green to Greyed-green. of the mature foliage. greyed-green, generally appearing as a medium yellow-green coloration. General coloration Narrowly margined Distally margined of the foliar margins. with a darker shade of with a lighter shade greyed-purple; becoming of greyed-purple. more broadly margined at the apex. Color suffusion of the Lightly suffused with Heavily suffused abaxial surface of the greyed-purple across with greyed-purple mature foliage. most of the leaf surface. towards and at the apex. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLSO8’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 